Underbed hitch mounting system

ABSTRACT

An underbed hitch mounting system is described. The mounting system may be utilized for towing vehicles wherein the mounting system may selectively accommodate either a fifth wheel hitch or a gooseneck hitch. The mounting system may include at least one rail capable of being connected to a vehicle frame, wherein the rail includes at least one socket. The socket may be engaged with a receiving member, wherein the receiving member may be engaged with a leg of a fifth wheel hitch. A mid rail may be connected to the rails and may include a hitch ball socket that is capable of engagement with a hitch.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/739,076, entitled “Underbed Hitch Mounting System,” filed Jun. 15,2015, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/790,134, entitled “Underbed Hitch Mounting System,” filed Mar. 8,2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,067,468, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/609,062, entitled “Underbed HitchMounting System,” filed Oct. 30, 2009, now. U.S. Pat. No. 8,414,009which claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/197,732, entitled “Underbed Hitch Mounting System,” filed on Oct. 30,2008, which are all hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to a towing apparatus and,more particularly, to an underbed hitch mounting system.

BACKGROUND

Many vehicles are designed to transport freight, goods, merchandise,personal property, and other such cargo. Often, a hitch assembly isutilized to connect a towed vehicle or trailer to a towing vehicle, suchas a truck for example, to increase the capacity to transport goods.Many types of coupling devices have been developed for providing thisconnection between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle.

It is well known to utilize a trailer hitch to connect a trailer to atowing vehicle. There are many different types of trailer hitches thatmay be attached to the towing vehicle in a variety of ways, depending onthe type of hitch to be used. Some of the most common types of hitchesinclude gooseneck, fifth wheel, front mount, and the like. Often, thetype of hitch used to connect a trailer and a vehicle is determined bythe size, shape and other features of the trailer. For example, largetrailers such as semi trailers and campers often require a fifth wheelhitch, whereas, small and midsized trailers, such as boat trailers, arebetter suited for gooseneck trailer hitches. Typically, trailers areconnected to a towing vehicle by way of a ball hitch secured to thevehicle and a ball socket coupling mechanism on the trailer that mountsover the ball and thereby allows for the trailer to pivot behind thetowing vehicle.

Due to the size and weight of many trailers, towing a trailer may causeunsafe conditions for the towing vehicle, such as fishtailing or otherunsafe effects. To avoid these unwanted effects, it is preferable toevenly balance and distribute the weight of the trailer over the wheelsof the towing vehicle. This is best accomplished by connecting the hitchto the frame or base of the towing vehicle, near the vehicle's center ofgravity. Accordingly, fifth wheel and gooseneck hitches mounted topickup trucks are often connected to the truck frame underneath the bedof the truck.

Traditional fifth wheel hitches include a head assembly for receiving aking pin on a trailer, a base having a plurality of legs, and one ormore mounting rails. The mounting rails may be permanently fixed to theframe of a vehicle, such as a pickup truck. For example, the mountingrails may be connected between two portions of a pickup truck frameunderneath the truck bed. The mounting rails may include a plurality ofholes for receiving the legs of the fifth wheel hitch.

Corresponding openings may be cut in the truck bed and aligned with theholes in the mounting rails. The legs of the fifth wheel hitch may beconnected to holes in the mounting rails through the openings in thetruck bed, thereby securing the fifth wheel hitch to the frame of thetruck. When the fifth wheel hitch is not in use, the legs may bedisconnected from the holes in the rails and the hitch may be removedfrom the bed of the truck. Caps may be placed over the holes to allowthe truck bed to be used for other purposes.

Traditional gooseneck hitches also mount to a pickup truck frame,beneath the bed of a truck. A gooseneck hitch is designed for use in apickup truck similar to a fifth wheel. The difference is that thegooseneck uses a ball and coupler verses a kingpin and pin receiver.Gooseneck hitches include a mounting plate configured to connect to theframe of a truck, a receptacle in the mounting plate configured toreceive a ball hitch, and a hitch ball removably connected to thereceptacle and configured to engage a coupling member of the trailer. Anopening in the bed of the truck is aligned with the receptacle in themounting plate, allowing the hitch ball to connect to the receptaclethrough the opening in the truck bed. The hitch balls themselves aretypically removable or retractable so that when the hitch is not in use,the hitch ball may be removed or retracted when not in use, so as not toobstruct the bed of the pick-up truck in any significant manner.

Towing vehicles are generally arranged to accommodate either a fifthwheel hitch or a gooseneck hitch, but not both. To convert a towingvehicle from accommodating a fifth wheel hitch to a gooseneck hitch orvice versa is time and labor intensive and inefficient. Furthermore,both fifth wheel hitches and gooseneck hitches are preferably mounted tothe vehicle frame near the vehicle's center of gravity. However, sincefifth wheel hitches and gooseneck hitches use different mountingconfigurations, traditionally only one hitch can occupy this location.Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved apparatus fortowing vehicles that allow for selectively accommodating either a fifthwheel hitch or a gooseneck hitch.

SUMMARY

An underbed hitch mounting system is described. The mounting system maybe utilized for towing vehicles wherein the mounting system mayselectively accommodate either a fifth wheel hitch or a gooseneck hitch.The mounting system may include at least one rail capable of beingconnected to a vehicle frame, wherein the rail includes at least onesocket. The socket may be engaged with a receiving member, wherein thereceiving member may be engaged with a leg of a fifth wheel hitch. A midrail may be connected to the rails and may include a hitch ball socketthat is capable of engagement with a hitch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Objects and advantages together with the operation of the invention maybe better understood by reference to the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective and partially exploded view of anunderbed hitch mounting system in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a rail assembly.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an adapter plate.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an underbed hitch mountingsystem in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the underbed hitch mounting system ofFIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the underbedhitch mounting system.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of embodiments of an underbedhitch mounting system with a fifth wheel hitch in phantom immediatelyover the underbed hitch mounting system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilizedand structural and functional changes may be made without departing fromthe respective scope of the invention. As such, the followingdescription is presented by way of illustration only and should notlimit in any way the various alternatives and modifications that may bemade to the illustrated embodiments and still be within the spirit andscope of the invention.

FIGS. 1-7 illustrate an underbed hitch mounting system 10. The underbedhitch mounting system 10 may be used with towing vehicles that allow forselectively accommodating either a fifth wheel hitch 55 or a gooseneckhitch. Trailer hitches, such as a gooseneck or fifth wheel hitch 55 maybe mounted to a truck bed. These types of hitches are often mountedbeneath the truck bed in conjunction with the truck's own frame rails52, such as with cross members or rails 20, for example.

The underbed hitch mounting system 10 may include at least one railmount or cross member 20 and at least one mid rail or adapter plate 40.For example, the mounting system 10 may include two rails 20 and one midrail or adapter plate 40. The rails 20 may be configured to support agooseneck hitch (not shown) or a fifth wheel hitch 55. Typical fifthwheel hitches 55 may include a plurality of legs 57 to connect the hitchto a vehicle. While the underbed hitch mounting system 10 may be shownand described as having two rails 20 and one mid rail or adapter plate40, it is to be understood that there may be any appropriate number ofrails or adapter plates and it should not be limited to that shown anddescribed herein.

The rails 20 may be of any appropriate shape or size, such as agenerally tubular, square or rectangular shape. Each rail 20 may includeone or more sockets 30 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4-6). The sockets 30 may be ofany appropriate shaper or size, such as a generally ovular, circular orrectangular shape. The sockets 30 may be configured to receive andsupport the legs 57 of a fifth wheel hitch 55. The legs 57 may besecured to the rails 20 through the sockets 30 by any appropriate means,such as by fasteners, being welded, or the like.

The rails 20 may include connecting holes or mounting apertures 28(FIGS. 1, 2 and 4-6). The mounting apertures 28 may be of anyappropriate shape or size, such as a generally circular, ovular orrectangular shape. There may be any number of appropriate mountingapertures 28 and should not be limited to that shown and describedherein.

The mounting apertures 28 may be utilized for connecting another memberto the rails 20, such as the adapter plate 40 or attachment brackets 54(see FIGS. 1, 2 and 4). The mounting apertures 28 may also be used toconnect the rails 20 of the hitch mounting system 10 to the underbed ofthe towing vehicle frame 52. For example, the rails 20 may be connectedto the towing vehicle frame 52, such as underneath the truck bed (notshown).

The rails 20 may include one or more attachment brackets 54 (FIG. 2).For example, the mounting system 10 may have two attachment brackets 54.The attachment brackets 54 may be utilized for connecting the rails 20to the frame 52. The rails 20 may be connected to the attachmentbrackets 54 by any appropriate means, such as with fasteners, welding orthe like. The attachment brackets 54 may be of any appropriate shape orsize, such as a general L-shape, rectangular plate or the like. Theattachment brackets 54 may be sized and shaped to engage a vehicleframe.

Typical vehicle frames 52 may include two parallel steel members. An endof each rail 20 may connect to a first member of the frame 52 and anopposite end of the rail 20 may connect to a second member of thevehicle frame 52 (FIG. 2). The cross members or rails 20 may extendbetween the mounting brackets 54. The rails 20 may be of a lengthsufficient to span the distance between the mounting brackets 54 whenthose brackets engage the vehicle framework 52. The attachment brackets54 may form a generally L-shaped bracket to engage the frame 52. Theattachment brackets 54 may be attached to the frame 52 by anyappropriate means, such as with fasteners, welding or the like.

The mid rail or adapter plate 40 may be of any appropriate shape orsize, such as a generally rectangular or tubular shape that may span thelength between the rails 20 (FIGS. 1 and 4). The mid rail or adapterplate 40 may be configured to connect to the rails 20. The mid rail oradapter plate 40 may be attached to the rails by any appropriate means,such as with fasteners, welding or the like.

The adapter plate 40 may be of a one piece construction or may includeseveral sections that may be secured together. The adapter plate 40 mayinclude a center section 32 and one or more mounting sections 34extending therefrom. For example, there may be two mounting sections 34(FIG. 3). As an alternative, there may be no mounting sections 34, suchthat the center section may be attached directly to the rails 20 (FIGS.4-6).

The center section 32 may be located between the mounting sections 32.The mounting sections 34 may extend at a downward angle and away fromthe center section 32, such that the center section 32 may be positionedabove the mounting sections 34. The mounting sections 34 may extend inopposite directions away from the center section 32.

The mounting sections 34 may engage the rails 20 at any appropriatelocation, such as the underside of the rails 20. The mounting sections34 may be configured to connect to the rails 20 by any appropriatemeans, such as with fasteners, welding or the like. When the mid rail 40is connected to the rails 20, the center section 32 may be approximatelyflush with and parallel to the rails 20 (FIGS. 3 and 4). When themounting section 34 engages the rails 20, the mounting sections 34 maybe approximately parallel to the rails 20. Each mounting section 34 mayinclude one or more openings or rail mounting apertures 38. The mountingapertures 38 may be configured to align with the mounting apertures 28in the rails 20. The mounting apertures 38 may be of any appropriateshape or size, such as a generally circular, ovular or rectangularshape.

The adapter plate or mid rail 40 may also include a base member 36(FIGS. 3 and 6). The base member 36 may be of any appropriate shape orsize, such as a generally square, rectangular or tubular shape. The basemember 36 may be attached to the bottom of the adapter plate or mid rail40. The base member 36 may be attached to the mid rail 40 by anyappropriate means, such as by welding, fasteners or the like. The basemember 36 may also be secured to the rails 20, such as on the undersideof the rails 20 (FIGS. 4 and 6).

The adapter plate or mid rail 40 may be configured to receive a hitchball 18 (see FIGS. 3 and 4-6). For example, the center section 32 mayinclude a hitch ball socket 42 that may be configured to receive thehitch ball 18. The hitch ball socket 42 may be of any appropriate shapeor size, such as a generally cylindrical shape. The hitch ball socket 42may be located at any appropriate position on the adapter plate 40, suchas the approximate center of the adapter plate 40. For example, thehitch ball socket 42 may be configured to receive a removable hitch ball18 with spring-loaded ball bearings. It should be appreciated, however,that the receptacle may be configured to receive any appropriate type ofhitch ball 18 and should not be limited to that shown or describedherein.

The hitch ball socket 42 may include a raised collar 46 and a cap 48(FIG. 3). The raised collar 46 may be of any appropriate shape or size,such as one that may extend above and approximately perpendicularly tothe surface of the center section 32. The cap 48 may be of anyappropriate shape or size, such as one that may engage the collar 46 andcover the hitch ball socket 42 when a hitch ball 18 is not connected tothe hitch ball socket 42.

FIGS. 4-6 illustrate another embodiment of the underbed hitch mountingsystem 10. The underbed hitch mounting system 10 may utilize a puckmounting system whereby the trailer hitch may be installed in the pickuptruck bed with only four small holes (not shown). Utilizing a puckmounting system may provide uninhibited use of the truck bed when thehitch is dismounted. The puck mounting system may also provide for awider platform and mounting surface, which increases the stability. Thepuck mounting system may be used with any appropriate trailer hitchmounting kit, such as those that utilize rail mounts or cross members 20for example, such as with the “Signature Series” produced and sold byCequent.

The underbed hitch mounting system 10 may include at least two rails orcross members 20. The cross members 20 may include sockets 30 forattachment with a puck or receiving member 44. The cross members 20 maybe attached to the vehicle framework 52 by any appropriate means, suchas with fasteners, by welding or the like.

Holes may be drilled in the truck bed corresponding to the locations ofthe sockets 30 in the rails 20 and the hitch ball socket 42. A fifthwheel hitch may be removably connected to the sockets 30 in the rails 20through the holes located in the truck bed. A hitch ball 18 may beremovably connected to the hitch ball socket 42 through the hole in thetruck bed, whereby a gooseneck hitch may be utilized.

The cross members 20 may be mounted to the truck bed with the use of thereceiving members 44. Each receiving member 44 may be mounted in asocket 30 provided in either of the cross members 20. The receivingmember 40 may be secured in the socket 30 by any appropriate means, suchas with fasteners, welding or the like. For example, a fastener, such asa bolt, could pass through an aperture in the bottom wall of the crossmember 20 and be secured in place by a cooperating nut and lock washer(not shown) if desired.

The puck or receiving member 44 may be of any appropriate shape or size,such as a cylindrical, oval, or a square shape, for example, and shouldnot be limited to that shown and described herein. The receiving member44 may be a one-piece integrally formed member. Each receiving member 44may also include an aperture 56 that may receive an accessory member 60.The aperture 56 may also be correspondingly shaped and sized to receivethe accessory member 60. Any number or variety of accessories 60 may beutilized with the receiving members 44. The accessory member 60 may beany appropriate or desired type of object, such as a cap or a safetychain tie down member. For example, caps (not shown) may be placed overthe receiving members 44 or holes in the truck bed when the hitch is notin use.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an integrally formed mounting system 10,whereby the receiving members 44 may be formed within the cross members20. FIG. 6 illustrates a mounting system 10 where the receiving members44 may be placed and secured into sockets 30 located within the crossmembers 20. The cross members 20 may be attached to one another by themid rail 40. The hitch ball socket 42 and corresponding hitch ball 18may be located on the mid rail 40 (FIGS. 4-6).

The underbed hitch mounting system 10 may include any number or varietyof mounting flanges 26 and mounting apertures 28 (FIGS. 4-6). Themounting flanges 26 may be of any appropriate shape or size, such asgenerally rectangular or circular. The mounting flanges 26 may belocated at any appropriate position on the rails 20, such as adjacent orat the ends of the rails 20. The mounting apertures 28 may be located inor around the mounting flanges 26. The mounting apertures 28 andmounting flanges 26 may aid in attached the mounting system 10 to theunderbed of the towing vehicle or the vehicle framework 52.

The invention has been described with reference to the embodiments.Obviously, modifications and alternations will occur to others upon areading and understanding of this specification. The claims as followsare intended to include all modifications and alterations insofar asthey come within the scope of the claim or an equivalent thereof.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:
 1. A hitch mountingsystem comprising: a pair of tubular members having cross-sectionalshapes a substantial portion of which is defined by an enclosedperipheral wall with a generally hollow section; a central memberattached to at least one of said pair of tubular members, said centralmember having a socket; and a pair of solid members fixedly attached toat least one of said pair of tubular members, said solid membersconfigured to attach to a frame of a vehicle.
 2. The hitch mountingsystem of claim 1, wherein said central member is permanently attachedto said tubular members as a one piece assembly.
 3. The hitch mountingsystem of claim 1, wherein a first of said pair of tubular member has afirst transverse length and a second of said pair of tubular members hasa second transverse length, said first transverse length different thansaid second transverse length.
 4. The hitch mounting system of claim 1,further comprising a second pair of solid members fixedly attached to asecond of said pair of tubular members, said second pair of solidmembers configured to attach to said frame of said vehicle.
 5. The hitchmounting system of claim 4, wherein said second pair of solid membersare asymmetrical with said pair of solid members.
 6. The hitch mountingsystem of claim 4, wherein said second pair of solid members are of adifferent configuration than said pair of solid members.
 7. A hitchmounting system comprising: a rail configured to attach to a frame of avehicle, wherein said rail includes a tubular member and first andsecond solid members fixedly attached to each side of said tubularmember whereby said first solid member has a first length in a firstdirection and said second solid member has a second length in said firstdirection whereby said first length is greater than said second length;a mid rail connected to said rail, wherein said mid rail includes asocket; and a pair of receiving members included with said rail, whereineach of said receiving members are configured to engage a respective legof a fifth wheel hitch.
 8. The hitch mounting system of claim 7, whereinsaid tubular member has a cross-sectional shape a substantial portion ofwhich is defined by an enclosed peripheral wall with a generally hollowsection.
 9. The hitch mounting system of claim 7, wherein said receivingmembers are formed with said rail.
 10. The hitch mounting system ofclaim 7, wherein said receiving members are attached with said rail. 11.The hitch mounting system of claim 7, wherein said receiving members areconfigured to engage a safety chain tie down member.
 12. The hitchmounting system of claim 7, wherein said socket is configured to accepta hitch ball.
 13. The hitch mounting system of claim 7, furthercomprising a second rail spaced from said rail wherein said mid rail ispositioned between and attached to said second rail and said rail. 14.The hitch mounting system of claim 13, wherein said second rail isconfigured to attach to the frame of the vehicle, whereby said secondrail includes a second tubular member and third and fourth solid membersfixedly attached to each side of said second tubular member.
 15. Thehitch mounting system of claim 14, wherein said third solid member has athird length in said first direction and said fourth solid member has afourth length in said first direction whereby said third length isgreater than said fourth length.
 16. A hitch mounting system comprising:a pair of tubular members each having a cross-sectional shape asubstantial portion of which is defined by an enclosed peripheral wallwith a generally hollow section; a mid rail attached to each of andbetween said pair of tubular members spacing said pair of tubularmembers apart, said mid rail having a socket capable of accepting agooseneck hitch ball; and a pair of receiving members attached with eachof said pair of tubular members, said receiving members configured toengage a leg of a fifth wheel hitch.
 17. The hitch mounting system ofclaim 16, wherein at least a pair of the receiving members areconfigured to accept a safety chain tie down.
 18. The hitch mountingsystem of claim 16 further comprising a plurality of fasteners attachingsaid mid rail between said pair of tubular members.
 19. The hitchmounting system of claim 16, wherein the pair of tubular members areconfigured to attached with a frame of a vehicle.
 20. The hitch mountingsystem of claim 19, further comprising an attachment bracket attachedwith the pair of tubular members, the attachment bracket capable ofattaching the pair of tubular members to the frame of the vehicle.